Orthodox Jews Clash With Police Over Movies

JERUSALEM — Police used tear gas and a water cannon Saturday to disperse hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jews who threw bottles and stones to protest the showing of films on the Sabbath, a police spokesman said.

Rafi Levy said several hundred ultra-Orthodox Jews clad in black hats and long black coats and crying "Shabbes! Shabbes!" demonstrated for about an hour near the religious neighborhood of Mea Shearim before they were dispersed. Shabbes is Yiddish for Sabbath.

There have been protests for several months against showing movies on the Sabbath, which many consider a violation of the Jewish holy day.